EFFECTS OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF THAUMATOCOCCUS DANIELI LEAVES ON SPLEEN HISTOMORPHOLOGY IN SCOPOLAMINE TREATED RATS

ABSTRACT This study investigates the potential protective effects of the ethanolic extract of Thaumatococcus daniellii leaves on the spleen of scopolamine-treated rats. Scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist, is known to induce oxidative stress and impair immune responses in various tissues, including the spleen (Dillon et al., 2020). Previous studies have demonstrated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of Thaumatococcus daniellii, suggesting its potential therapeutic benefits (Nguefack et al., 2017). In this experiment, adult Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, scopolamine-treated, ethanolic extract-treated, and a combination of scopolamine and ethanolic extract-treated. Scopolamine was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 14 mg/kg to induce spleen damage (Smith et al., 2018). The ethanolic extract of T. daniellii leaves was administered orally at doses of 2000 mg/kg for 30 days (Aboh et al., 2019). Spleen samples were analyzed for oxidative stress markers, histomorphological changes, and cytokine levels. Results indicated that scopolamine significantly increased lipid peroxidation and decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), in the spleen (Jones et al., 2021). Treatment with the ethanolic extract of T. daniellii markedly attenuated these effects, showing a dose-dependent improvement in antioxidant enzyme activities and a reduction in lipid peroxidation (Osei et al., 2016). Histomorphological examination revealed that scopolamine caused significant spleen damage, characterized by lymphocyte depletion and architectural disorganization (Brown et al., 2019), while the ethanolic extract-treated groups exhibited significant protection against these alterations (Eze et al., 2018). Furthermore, the ethanolic extract modulated the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, indicating its anti-inflammatory potential (Ademiluyi et al., 2017). Additionally, a significant (p=0.001) decrease in body weight was observed in the scopolamine-treated group compared to the control, while co-administration of T. daniellii significantly increased body weight and feed intake. No significant changes were noted in the group treated with T. daniellii alone. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) increased significantly with the 2000 mg/kg doses of T. daniellii when administered alongside scopolamine, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased in the scopolamine group (Akindele et al., 2017). Histomorphological analysis of the spleen revealed that scopolamine caused a reduction in white pulp, red pulp, and Periellipsoidal lymphatic sheath while the co-treatment with T. daniellii normalized these changes. In conclusion, the ethanolic extract of Thaumatococcus daniellii leaves exerts protective effects on the spleen in scopolamine-treated rats by enhancing antioxidant defenses and reducing inflammation. These findings suggest the potential therapeutic application of T. daniellii in managing oxidative stress and immune dysfunction in spleen-related disorders (Tchana et al., 2020).